JP7443772B2 - beverage dispensing equipment - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a beverage dispensing device.

BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, a bag-in-box (hereinafter also referred to as BIB) has been used in a beverage supply device that supplies coffee, such as a latte, to a cup placed thereon.

A BIB is constructed by housing a bag-like container containing an undiluted beverage such as a milk drink in a box-like container, and a tube with a closed tip is connected to the bag-like container. This BIB is stored and cooled in a cold storage in a beverage supply device, and the closed part of the tube is cut off to form an open end, and a tube pump attached to the tube is driven to open the BIB from the open end. A fixed amount of the beverage stock solution is discharged, and the beverage is supplied to the cup (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Patent No. 6455591

By the way, in the above-mentioned beverage supply device, not only the operating parts of the tube pump but also electrical components such as a motor for driving the tube pump are arranged inside the cold storage. Therefore, there is a risk that problems may occur in such electrical components due to condensed water or the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a beverage supply device that can prevent problems caused by condensed water and the like to electrical components for driving a tube pump.

In order to achieve the above object, the beverage dispensing device according to the present invention includes a bag-in-box which is installed in a cold storage with an insulated structure and which houses a bag-shaped container filled with a beverage concentrate in a box-shaped container; An operating part is attached to a tube connected to the bag-in-box, and a tube pump is provided which discharges the beverage raw material from the open end of the tube when driven, and the beverage produced from the beverage stock solution is pumped into a predetermined amount. This is a beverage supply device that supplies a cup placed on a stage, and the tube pump is characterized in that electrical components for driving the operating components are disposed outside the cold storage.

Further, the present invention provides the above-mentioned beverage supply device, which is provided in such a manner that it passes through a connecting hole formed in a wall portion constituting the cold storage, and in which one end portion is capable of transmitting power to a component of the operating part. one end of the resin is engaged with a component of the electrical component in a manner capable of transmitting power, thereby connecting the operating component and the component of the electrical component in a manner that they are spaced apart from each other; It is characterized by having a joint member made of.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned beverage supply device, the electrical component includes a motor for driving the operating component, and a detection means for detecting the rotation speed of the motor.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned beverage supply device, the beverage stock solution is a milk beverage.

According to the present invention, since the electrical components for driving the operating components of the tube pump are placed outside the refrigerator, it is possible to eliminate the influence of condensed water on the electrical components. This has the effect of preventing the occurrence of such problems.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram schematically showing the configuration of a beverage supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cold storage shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cold storage shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a rear view showing the internal structure of the cold storage box shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a side view showing an enlarged main part of the cold storage shown in FIG. 1. FIG. FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing the internal structure of the cold storage box shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of a beverage supply device according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram schematically showing the configuration of a beverage supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The beverage supply device 1 illustrated here supplies milk, which is a dairy beverage, in a foamed state together with coffee to a cup C, which is a container.

This beverage supply device 1 includes a steam supply section 20, a stock solution supply section 30, an air supply section 40, a mixing section 51, a forming section 53, and a nozzle section 55.

The steam supply section 20 is provided inside the device main body 11 and includes a steam tank 21, a first steam supply pipe 22, and a second steam supply pipe 23. The steam tank 21 is conventionally known and is used to generate pressurized steam.

The first steam supply pipe 22 has one end connected to the steam tank 21 and the other end connected to the mixing section 51, thereby connecting the steam tank 21 and the mixing section 51. A first steam supply valve 24 is provided in the middle of this first steam supply pipe 22 . This first steam supply valve 24 is opened and closed by a command given from the control section 100.

Here, the control unit 100 controls the operation of each part of the beverage supply device 1 in an integrated manner according to programs and data stored in a memory (not shown).

The first steam supply valve 24 allows pressurized steam to pass through the first steam supply pipe 22 when opened. Further, when the first steam supply valve 24 is closed, it restricts pressurized steam from passing through the first steam supply valve 24 .

The second steam supply pipe 23 has one end connected to the steam tank 21 and the other end connected to the first connection part 26 which can be connected to the stock solution supply part 30, and connects the steam tank 21 and the first connection part 26. It is something that connects. Here, the first connecting part 26 is attached to one end of a stock solution supply pipe 57 connected to the mixing part 51.

A second steam supply valve 25 is provided in the middle of this second steam supply pipe 23 . This second steam supply valve 25 is opened and closed by a command given from the control section 100. The second steam supply valve 25 allows pressurized steam to pass through the second steam supply pipe 23 when opened. Furthermore, when the second steam supply valve 25 is closed, it restricts pressurized steam from passing through the second steam supply valve 25 .

The stock solution supply section 30 is mainly provided in the cold storage 12 adjacent to the main body 11 of the apparatus, and includes a bag-in-box (hereinafter also referred to as BIB) 31, a tube pump 33, and a connecting pipe 35. be.

2 to 6 each show the cold storage box 12 shown in FIG. 1. FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective views, FIG. 4 is a rear view showing the internal structure, and FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the main parts. FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view schematically showing the internal structure.

The cold storage 12 illustrated here has a heat insulating structure with an opening 121 on the rear surface, and the opening 121 is opened and closed by a rear door 122 having a heat insulating structure. A Peltier element 123 is provided at the top of the cold storage 12, and a cold heat generating portion 123a of the Peltier element 123 faces the inside of the cold storage 12. In such a cold storage 12, the air cooled by the Peltier element 123 is blown by the internal fan 124 provided below the Peltier element 123, thereby cooling the internal atmosphere. On the other hand, the heat exhaust part 123b of the Peltier element 123 faces upward, and the air heated by the heat exhaust part 123b is blown by the external fan 125 provided in the upper area of the Peltier element 123 to the outside. is being discharged.

The BIB 31 is constructed by accommodating a bag-like container containing an undiluted solution (hereinafter also referred to as milk undiluted solution) of a milk beverage (foamed milk) to be supplied to the cup C in a box-like container. This BIB 31 is arranged inside the cold storage box 12. This BIB 31 is refilled with the cold storage 12 opened by swinging it in the direction in which the rear door 122 is opened.

The tube pump 33 is provided below the BIB 31 inside the cold storage 12 . This tube pump 33 is driven by a command given from the control unit 100, and when it is driven, the tube 32 connected to the BIB 31 is crushed by a plurality of rollers, etc., and the undiluted milk solution in the BIB 31 is pumped out. The liquid is discharged from the open end, which is the distal end of the tube 32.

Here, in the tube pump 33, operating parts 331 such as a plurality of rollers are installed inside the refrigerator 12, but electrical components 332 for driving the operating components 331 are installed outside the refrigerator 12. There is. To explain in more detail, a motor 332a for driving the tube pump 33 and a detection means 332b such as an encoder for detecting the rotation speed of the motor 332a are installed outside the cold storage 12.

The motor 332a and the operating component 331 are linked together as follows. A connecting hole 126 penetrating in the front-rear direction is formed in the lower end portion of the front wall of the cold storage box 12, and a cylindrical joint member 34 is provided to pass through the connecting hole 126. This joint member 34 is made of resin. Further, the joint member 34 is engaged with the output shaft 332c of the motor 332a so that the front end portion facing the outside of the cold storage 12 can transmit power, and the rear end portion facing the inside of the cold storage 12 is engaged with the output shaft 332c of the motor 332a. By meshing with the connecting shaft 331c of the operating component 331, it is engaged in a state where power can be transmitted. The joint member 34 transmits the rotational force given from the output shaft 332c to the connection shaft 331c in a state where the output shaft 332c and the connection shaft 331c are separated from each other. and are thermally insulated. Note that the motor 332a is driven in accordance with a command given from the control section 100, and the detection means 332b is used to give a detection result to the control section 100.

The connecting pipe 35 is provided such that one end faces the inside of the cold storage 12, and is connected to and communicates with the open end of the tube 32. The other end of the connecting pipe 35 is connected to a second connecting portion 37 that is detachably connected to the first connecting portion 26 .

The air supply section 40 is provided inside the apparatus main body 11 similarly to the steam supply section 20, and includes an air supply pipe 41. The air supply pipe 41 has one end connected to the air pump 42 and the other end connected to the mixing section 51, thereby connecting the air pump 42 and the mixing section 51. The air pump 42 is driven according to a command given from the control unit 100, and when driven, compresses air and sends out the compressed air (air) through the air supply pipe 41.

The mixing section 51 is provided inside the device main body 11 and is connected to the first steam supply pipe 22, the stock solution supply pipe 57, and the air supply pipe 41, and is also connected to the beverage delivery pipe 52. Here, the beverage delivery pipe 52 has one end connected to the mixing section 51 and the other end connected to the forming section 53, thereby connecting the mixing section 51 and the forming section 53. The mixing unit 51 heats the milk concentrate by mixing the pressurized steam supplied through the first steam supply pipe 22 and the milk concentrate supplied through the concentrate supply pipe 57, and further heats the milk concentrate through the air supply pipe 41. By mixing the supplied compressed air, a slightly foamed milk beverage is produced.

The foaming section 53 is provided inside the device main body 11 and serves to foam the milk beverage delivered from the mixing section 51 through the beverage delivery pipe 52.

The nozzle section 55 is provided inside the device main body 11, and is connected to the forming section 53 via a beverage outlet passage (not shown). This nozzle section 55 discharges the milk beverage (foamed milk beverage) sent out from the forming section 53 through the beverage outlet passage into a cup C placed on a predetermined stage S. Further, an extraction unit 60 for extracting coffee is connected to the nozzle portion 55, and the coffee extracted by the extraction unit 60 is discharged into the cup C together with the milk beverage.

In the beverage supply device 1 having the above configuration, coffee can be supplied to the cup C with milk foamed in the following manner. It is assumed that the first steam supply valve 24 is opened by the control unit 100, and the tube pump 33 and the air pump 42 are driven. Note that the second steam supply valve 25 is closed.

By driving the tube pump 33 in this manner, the milk stock solution from the BIB 31 is pumped out in the stock solution supply section 30. The milk undiluted solution pumped out from the BIB 31 passes through the tube 32 and then passes through the undiluted solution supply pipe 57 via the connecting pipe 35. The milk stock solution passing through the stock solution supply pipe 57 reaches the mixing section 51 .

By the way, the pressurized steam generated in the steam tank 21 by opening the first steam supply valve 24 passes through the first steam supply pipe 22 and reaches the mixing section 51. Further, by driving the air pump 42, compressed air passes through the air supply pipe 41 and reaches the mixing section 51.

In the mixing section 51, the milk stock solution is heated by pressurized steam. Further, in the mixing section 51, compressed air is mixed with milk stock solution heated to pressurized steam to produce a milk beverage. The milk beverage produced here is slightly foamed by compressed air. The milk beverage thus produced in the mixing section 51 passes through the beverage delivery pipe 52 and reaches the forming section 53 .

In the foaming section 53, the milk beverage is foamed and delivered to the nozzle section 55. The foamed milk beverage delivered to the nozzle part 55 is extracted by the extraction unit 60 and delivered to the cup C together with the coffee delivered to the nozzle part 55, so that, for example, milk-containing coffee such as cappuccino is added to the cup C. Supplied.

As explained above, according to the beverage supply device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the electric components 332 such as the motor 332a and the detection means 332b for driving the tube pump 33 are arranged outside the cold storage 12. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the influence of condensed water etc. on the electrical component 332, and it is possible to prevent the electrical component 332 from causing problems due to dew condensed water etc.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various changes can be made.

Although not specifically mentioned in the embodiment described above, in the present invention, a part of the air heated by the heat exhaust part 123b of the Peltier element 123 is blown around the electrical components 332 of the tube pump 33. It's okay.

In the embodiment described above, the electrical component 332 includes the motor 332a and the detection means 332b, but in the present invention, the electrical component may include other components other than the motor.

Although not specifically mentioned in the embodiment described above, a switch is provided to detect the opening and closing of the rear door 122 of the cold storage 12, and the switch detects that the rear door 122 is swung in the opening direction and the opening 121 is opened. If detected, the operation of the tube pump 33 may be forcibly stopped.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Beverage supply device, 11...Device body, 12...Cold box, 122...Rear door, 123...Peltier element, 124...Internal fan, 125...External fan, 20...Steam supply section, 30...Standard solution supply section, 31... Bag in box (BIB), 32... Tube, 33... Tube pump, 331... Operating parts, 332... Electrical components, 332a... Motor, 332b... Detection means, 34... Joint member, 35... Connecting pipe, 40 ... Air supply section, 51... Mixing section, 53... Forming section, 55... Nozzle section, 100... Control section, C... Cup, S... Stage.

Claims (3)

A bag-in-box, which is installed in a cold storage with an insulated structure and houses a bag-like container filled with an undiluted beverage solution in a box-like container;
A tube pump having an operating part attached to a tube connected to the bag-in-box and discharging beverage ingredients from the open end of the tube when driven,
A beverage supply device that supplies a beverage produced from the beverage stock solution to a cup placed on a predetermined stage,
The tube pump has electrical components for driving the operating components arranged outside the cold storage ,
It is provided so as to pass through a connecting hole formed in a wall that constitutes the cold storage, and one end is engaged with a component of the operating part in a manner capable of transmitting power, while the other end is connected to the It is characterized by comprising a resin joint member that connects the operating component and the components of the electrical component in a manner that they are spaced apart from each other by being engaged with the component of the electrical component in a manner capable of transmitting power. beverage dispensing equipment. The beverage dispensing device according to claim 1 , wherein the electrical component includes a motor for driving the operating component, and a detection means for detecting the rotation speed of the motor. The beverage supply device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the beverage stock solution is a milk beverage.

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